Played hookey...the Sienna made me do it...

Guilty! I couldn't resist. The powers that be tempted me with great weather, hubby home for the day AND a new Toyota Sienna in my driveway with only about 50 miles on it. Sorry folks, that's just too many carrots a-dangling for me power through. So, yeah, we totally played hookey today and instead of gearing up for work and school we headed Kensington Metro Park instead. Jealous? You will be...

Sienna made the 30 minute trip even more amazing with the dual-DVD entertainment system in the second row. My boys were able to watch different movies at the same time! Amazing - and headphones allowed them to hear their movies while I could still hear the radio, just WOW!

Not to mention my husband and I were in complete agreement, "This minivan looks cool, I'd totally drive it!"

For sure! More Sienna tidbits to come, today was just a sneak peek ;-)

Um, does it get any better than this?

I was just introduced to www.sweetandsassy.com, a spa/salon specializing in parties for the youngest of young ladies. Book a birthday party for your daughter or just share a special mother/daughter spa day - either way be sure to request a ride in their PINK STRETCH LIMO!!! Ahh, what I wouldn't give to be 5 again or to have a lil' girl of my own. "Boys! Hey, boys! Anybody wanna hit the spa with Mom for a mani and pedi? There's a pink limo!"

The ride: 2010 Ford Flex w/ EcoBoost
The Price: $39,940
The Pics
My favorite Mommy super-hero is Elastigirl from the Pixar Studios favorite The Incredibles. A phenomenally loving wife and mother, this super-mom could stretch her arms to reach two kids running in opposite directions (wow!) or turn herself into a parachute to secure a soft landing after leaping from a tumbling airplane. Despite Flex’s sturdy-steel frame, it too quickly adapted to whatever I threw at it.
Three rows of comfort cradled my family on our daily commutes. The kids were able to buckle easily and could manipulate that second row to gain access to the third row (they always opt to be as far away from the parents as possible) just as effortlessly. I didn’t have to help at all. Mama appreciated leather upholstery, heated seats and surprisingly good visibility from all angles plus the ability to carry seven passengers with LATCH connectors enough for three car seats!
My husband felt right at home in Flex and noted it one of the most comfortable and roomy cars I have ever tested.
Flex joined our family on a journey to Great Lakes Crossing for our annual OshKosh adventure. The cruise up I-75 was a breeze as the four of us plus grandma likened the ride to being in a living-room on wheels. Despite its size and boxy shape, Flex was able to pick up speed easily and maneuver through traffic just as I imagine Elastigirl would.
As I ran through my daily errands in Flex, I asked people what they thought of it. Many were not sure about the retro exterior styling. To them I said, “You should drive one.” Unfortunately, Flex is one whose most venerable attributes may never be realized because people are so used to making snap judgments based on surface features.

Must See Ford Raptor Video!!!

You will thank me for this!

The ride: 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon V6 Premium Collection
The price: $51,215.00
The Pics
As much as I wanted to make paddy-wagon/Caddy-wagon references with this car – it just wasn’t happening. There was nothing prison-like about the CTS wagon – although, the combination of A and B pillars with the intermingling rear-view mirrors did make for an obstructed view possibly comparable to looking out from behind bars. Other than that, the ride in the CTS was immaculate. Comfortable and pretty and fun to be seen in because, despite the reputation of Cady’s being for older folks, the CTS wagon had a certain menacing look that oozed youthful appeal.
As I drove along curvy suburban streets with manicured boulevards, CTS felt right at home. The CTS also looked extremely fitting in front of the beautiful Shrine church on Woodward Ave., in Royal Oak. I was tempted to take CTS out of its comfort zone to pose artfully amongst run-down buildings, but she wasn’t having it.
CTS met the needs of my family; comfort, convenience and cargo-space for Mom, lots of leg-room and technology for Dad (my kids LOVED the DVD screen that rose and fell automatically when needed) and a mostly usable second row for the kids - albeit the lumpy bolsters were not necessary for my booster-bound boys. Those of you with infants in bulky car-seats are likely to struggle with the close-quarters and bolsters (not to mention the awkwardly placed LATCH connectors – you actually need to zip open the seating to reveal the LATCH hooks) in CTS…a fact that made me want to place CTS back in the older-crowd category.
In truth, I don’t know many people in their late 20’s or early 30’s that are ready to drop this kind of coin on a car anyways. Perhaps CTS prefers a more mature following…perhaps.
For more detailed info on the CTS, send me your comments, I’d be happy to chat!